Planning Plan B

Most of us who travel from small airport to smaller airport recognize the importance of weather and fuel requirements, but the alternatives available is often neglected in our training. Instead, were focused on getting a weather briefing and knowing things like runway lengths, ATC frequencies and whether the destination has a restaurant. Too often, we learn the hard way that services at the small airports closest to our ultimate destination may not be available when we need them most.

Mike Hart

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

FAR 91.103 mandates pilots familiarize themselves with "all available information" and "alternatives available," underscoring the necessity of researching services and ground transportation at potential diversion airports, not just the primary destination.
Thorough pre-flight planning should include identifying ground transportation options (rental or courtesy cars) at intermediate airports, especially in unpredictable weather, to provide critical backup plans and reduce pressure to fly in adverse conditions.
Non-traditional information sources like webcams are crucial tools for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of real-time weather, particularly in mountainous or remote areas, supplementing official reports and enhancing overall situational awareness to ensure safer decisions.

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The word “all” creates an impossible threshold. No brain can hold all information available, and yet FAR 91.103 does not let us off the hook. It requires that “Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all [emphasis added] available information concerning that flight.” Additionally, it requires we know the “alternatives available if the planned flight cannot be completed.” At first blush, that may sounds like a simple task but to exercise an informed option, you have to know what services may be available along your route and beneath your present location. The more you know, the better your outcome will be.